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“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
after righteousness, for they will be filled.”
(Matt. 5:6 NIV)

Continuing in the beatitudes series…

Did you ever feel hungry or thirsty? Fainting? Tired? Need recharging? What did you do? More than likely, you nurtured yourself with food, water, rest, and whatever else your body needed.

David got hungry and thirsty. He said to the Lord, “My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water,” (Ps. 63:1b NLT) and “You constantly satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.” (Ps. 145:16 TLB)

While in the wilderness, Israel hungered and thirsted, as David tells us, “Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died. ‘Lord, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and He rescued them from their distress.” (Ps. 107:5-6 NLT)

Just as it is possible to get weary physically, it is equally possible to get weary spiritually.

Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. No one coming to me will ever be hungry again. Those believing in me will never thirst.” (John 6:35TLB) And “For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water shall flow from the inmost being of anyone who believes in me.” (John 7:38 TLB)

God “gives food to the hungry” (Ps. 146:7 NKJV) and “turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water. He brings the hungry to settle there.” (Ps. 107:35-36 NLT) But the Lord’s offering of refreshing, spiritual bread and water, is not from without, but from within.

When you become tired from your journey and your weary soul shrivels up, feeling bone-dry, what do you do? When every last drop of spiritual vitality has evaporated, where do you go to fill that lack? Do you reach outside to the world to replenish yourself? Or do you seek solace within to refresh yourself with the Bread of Life and the Living Waters?

When you reach within to draw from the Lord, just as Elijah, He will lead you to drink of the Brook Cherith and command His wings servants to feed you. And when you hunger and thirst after the things of God, you will be filled.

That is God’s promise to you!

photo courtesy of Fazeel at picasaweb
“Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.”
Matt. 5:7 NKJV
The above verse is the next statement in the beatitudes Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount.

The dictionary defines ‘mercy’ as compassion, pity, benevolence, acts of kindness or favor, kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one’s power, or something that gives evidence of divine favor, blessing.

Vine’s says the Greek word for ‘merciful’ means “not simply possessed of pity but actively compassionate, is used of Christ as a High Priest, Heb 2:17, and of those who are like God, Matt 5:7.”

To ‘obtain mercy’ means to compassionate (by word or deed, specially, by divine grace), to have mercy on, to succor the afflicted, to bring help to the wretched, to show kindness, by beneficence, or assistance, to feel sympathy with the misery of another, and especially sympathy manifested in act.

Who comes to mind of a modern-day servant of compassion? Mother Teresa! She has been dubbed “an angel of mercy.” She said, “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”

And what did she do? She desperately and consistently tried to fill those needs. Her active mercy-compassion knew no bounds.

Who was her example? Jesus. Scripture says, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them.” (Matt. 9:36 NKJV) Several other times, scripture says Jesus was filled with compassion for an individual.

As we are to follow Jesus’ example, we can apply to ourselves what Jesus said to Peter in a parable, “Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” (Matt. 18:33 NKJV)

Are we touched with compassion for others? Are we actively seeking to be compassionate to all those that cross our paths? Do we go out of our way to be God’s hands of mercy kindness, sympathy, and assistance to one suffering in life? Sure, we may do so for family, friends, or even for some strangers.

But what about our enemies, those who offend us? Hmmm, another matter, isn’t it?

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9 NKJV)

William Shakespeare wrote…

“The quality of mercy is not strain’d;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”

In need of mercy? Reach out to another. As the verse says, those who are merciful will receive mercy’s compassion.

May you and another be blessed as you spread mercy and compassion today!



This post is part of the One Word at a Time Blog Carnival. Hop on over to Bridget Chumbley’s site to view all the other participants.

“Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.”
Matt. 5:5 NKJV

Meekness reminds me of a sweet, little lamb. But what does ‘meek’ mean? In general, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, it means humble, mild, gentle, and so on.

The Bible tells us the man of meekness in the Old Testament was Moses. It says that “the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” (Num. 12:3)

In the New Testament, meekness is exemplified in Jesus. He said it of Himself, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matt. 11:29 KJV)

Meekness is an inward grace of the soul given by the Holy Spirit, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” (Gal. 5:22-23 KJV)

It is a virtue to be practiced, to be followed after, “Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility.” (Zeph. 2:3 NKJV)

To have an attitude of meekness is to have humility toward God and gentleness toward men. Meekness is not weakness. Weakness manifests as a lack of strength or lack of courage. On the other hand, meekness is strength and courage under control, wrapped in kindness.

God’s Word tells us that meekness is …

* to be walked in, as Paul told the Ephesians, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.” (Eph. 4:1-2 NKJV) Gentleness=meekness.
* to be evident by a man’s “good life his works in meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13)
* to give the reason for the hope that is in a person, “with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15)
* to be shown in our relations with one another, “tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Col. 3:12-13 NKJV)
* to be followed after, as Paul told Timothy, “follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (1 Tim. 6:11 KJV)
* to be a part of our speech and character, “speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” (Titus 3:2 NKJV) Humility=meekness.
* to be in readiness, “to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV)
* to be a partner with “humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth.” (2 Tim. 2:25 NKJV) Humility=meekness.
* to be used in confronting those who have sinned, “if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” (Gal. 6:1-2 NKJV) Gentleness=meekness.

James wrote, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13-14 NKJV)

Meekness is a grace, a beauty, that must come from within and permeate every area of our lives. Peter wrote, “Let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God.” (1 Peter 3:4 Amp)

Meekness, being precious in God’s eyes, has a promise...it inherits the earth.

Would anyone say you are a meek and gentle spirit?

Today, I am happy to bring you an interview with Lynnda Ell, author of Changing Me, Change the World. Be sure to read to the end. She has a special offer for you.

Hey, Linda! Describe Changing Me, Change the World for us.

Changing Me, Change the World contains the English Standard Version of the first forty one psalms of the book of Psalms with a contemporary prayer for each one. The format is a little unusual. Every psalm is on the left-hand page and every prayer is on the right-hand page.

Sometimes, the psalm and prayer do not end on facing pages. When that occurs, a blank page allows the reader to write his or her own prayer.

Tell us about your background and your family.

My parents raised me in a godly home where I learned to love God and to follow Him and that has shaped my life. Polio completely paralyzed me when I was a child. The effects of that disease also shape the boundaries of my life every day.

The career paths of my dad and husband dictated that I move every two or three years. I gained a wealth of experience from living in different sections of the country and in seeing other countries. After our two daughters were born, I stayed home until they were almost out of grammar school. Then, I followed careers in direct sales, accounting, and electrical engineering.

Now, I am a freelance writer and a grandmother of five. My life has not been easy, but it has always been rewarding.

You live in New Orleans. How did Hurricane Katrina affect your life?

Damage to my home exceeded $100,000, but we were able to move back to New Orleans after five months and to live in the house while we restored it. We worked on it for over two years. By a series of miracles, we did not lose everything as so many people did.

Why did you write Changing Me, Change the World?

Communicating with God has always been an important part of my life. In the spring of 2001, my older daughter suffered brain damage in a car accident. For two months, I lived with her in a rehab hospital as the medical staff worked to restore her health.

The experience drained me physically, mentally, and spiritually. I spent significant time in prayer to find renewal and I felt that God wanted me to record the prayers. In the right time, those prayers became a book.

What do you hope readers take away from it?

People want to pray. An internet search on the words “praying to Jesus” brings up twelve million results. Yet, countless people have told me they don’t know what or how to pray. I published Changing Me, Change the World to model one – powerful – way to pray. By taking a portion of the Bible, in this case a psalm, and using it to guide their prayer, I hope readers see that God wants to hear our heart-cry in a manner that honors Him.

You can find Changing Me, Change the World in both hard cover or soft bound editions at:

Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com
and other internet bookstores.

Lynnda blogs at Calling All Aspiring Writers of Nonfiction Books and at Passionate for the Glory of God.

Lynnda has offered a special give-away for all the followers of Heading Home. To get a free copy of Changing Me, Change the World, send an email to her at lynndaell[at]live[dot]com with “Heading Home” in the subject line. In the message, provide your full name and your mailing address. Then look for it in your mail box.

Thanks so much, Lynnda!

“God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.”
(Matt. 5:4 NLT)

I went to a funeral the other day. A very precious friend’s husband died.

As I sat there listening to the trembling voices, soaked in tears, and the preacher’s words of tribute, I cried along with the family and friends.

Separation from a loved one brings grief, but the Lord brings His comfort. The Lord said, “He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted.” (Is. 61:1 TLB)

When a loved on is no longer with us, the afterglow of his or her presence lingers on in our hearts and in all the hearts of his/her loved ones on earth long after that one has left our sight. The beauty of such a person never dies, for he or she leaves behind so much of themselves. Our hearts are always illuminated by the memories of their smile, their laughter, their kind words, the touch of their hand, and, if they are a Christian, their love for God.

When we lose a loved one who loved the Lord, we may also look at it this way: Of the roses that climb the garden wall, some will blossom on the other side, being hidden from our view, but the vine keeps them all joined together.

And so it is with the wall of death. It merely hides the other side; it does not divide. Our loved ones who have gone on to be with Jesus may be hidden from our view, but they have just blossomed on the other side. And, if we, who remain here, are also in Christ, then we are all united together, because the Vine keeps us together.

Mourning encompasses more than the heartache of losing a loved one. We mourn when a loved one goes astray in his/her marriage and divorce results, distressing the children. Or when s/he makes wrong decisions and ends up in jail or addicted to some substance.

We mourn for our own mistakes and regrets, for fallen heroes, for abused children, for children kidnapped and forced into sex trafficking, or for those caught in a natural or some other disaster.

There is “a time to weep,” as Ecclesiastes 3:4 NKJV tells us. But what did our opening verse say? “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” In all our mourning, the Lord blesses us with His comfort.

David knew the Lord’s comfort and we are blessed with David’s thoughts and writings in the book of Psalms. David wrote, “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life” (Ps. 119:50 NIV), “May Your unfailing love be my comfort” (Ps. 119:76 NIV), and “Let Your compassion come to me that I may live” (Ps. 119:77 NIV).

In His care for us, God sent Jesus “to comfort all who mourn” (Is. 61:2b NIV), “to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Is. 61:3 NIV).

David wrote, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Ps. 147:3 NKJV)

Trust in those words.

It is God’s promise to you.

Those that mourn shall be comforted…with the Lord’s presence.

If mourning is a part of your life right now, I pray the Lord blesses you with His presence and His comfort.

Life in Defiance

About the book:

In a town she personifies, Ouisie Pepper wrestles with her own defiance. Desperate to become the wife and mother her husband Hap demands, Ouisie pours over a simple book about womanhood, constantly falling short, but determined to improve.

Through all that self-improvement, Ouisie carries a terrible secret: she knows who killed Daisy Chance. As her children inch closer to uncovering the killer’s identity and Hap’s rages roar louder and become increasingly violent, Ouisie has to make a decision. Will she protect her children by telling her secret? Or will Hap’s violence silence them all?

Set on the backdrop of Defiance, Texas, Ouisie’s journey typifies the choices we all face—whether to tell the truth about secrets and fight for the truth or bury them forever and live with the violent consequences.

Where did you get the idea for the book?

My husband and I have helped women caught in the middle of domestic violence, and we’ve seen the church grapple with how to help women in this situation. Writing about Ouisie Pepper, a pastor’s wife who is trying to hide a huge secret helps bring to light the complicated issue.

I have encountered folks who hide, who seem to be upstanding Christians in public, but who hide their issues behind closed doors. I’ve seen the tortured state of their souls, and I’ve wondered why folks hide so much. Based on those encounters, I formulated the Defiance, TX trilogy to address hiding versus authentic, amazing faith.

Is any part of the book true?
Only in terms of walking alongside women who have experienced domestic violence. My story is not that at all. But I have seen the devastation up close with friends.

And then of course, I am writing the book, so there’s always a lot of me woven through all the characters.

Do you have a favorite character in Life in Defiance? Why?

I would say Emory Chance because she is so lost throughout the series, and deeply broken, but in this book she truly starts to absorb the beauty of Jesus. That, in a way, is the story of my life. I was a broken, needy girl who Jesus rescued.

What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

That you may encounter Jesus in outcasts. It’s not always the folks who promote themselves as believers who truly walk as Jesus did. Jesus comes in distressing disguise. Will we miss Him?

Where are you headed next?

I just finished a standalone book for Zondervan—a mystery set in Rockwall, TX, which is where I live! And it has a romantic element to it. I’m also dabbling into YA (young adult) fiction, hoping to write for that demographic. So many of the things I write about can impact teen girls (identity, authenticity, beauty, abandonment, etc.). I look forward to see how God orchestrates that.

Thanks, Mary! May the Lord bless all you do!

Life in Defiance on Amazon
Mary DeMuth’s Website
Mary DeMuth’s Blog
Mary DeMuth’s Facebook Profile
Follow Mary DeMuth on Twitter
For the other tour stops, click here.

photo by joshuaBENTLEY at flickr.com
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matt. 5:3 NKJV
This is the first of the beatitude series...

The poor in spirit…

What does ‘poor in spirit’ mean? The word ‘poor’ in Greek means to crouch, a beggar (as cringing), pauper, asking alms, needy, and lacking in anything.

The one ‘poor in spirit’ is lowly in heart, convinced of his or her spiritual poverty and pleads as a beggar to God to be replenished.

One who is ‘poor in spirit’ has emptied himself or herself of all pride, selfishness, and ambition through humility, gratitude, and submission to God.

…are blessed…

‘Blessed’ in Greek means happy, supremely blest, fortunate, well off, and of that which is the highest good.

…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…

The Greek word for ‘kingdom’ means royal power, kingship, dominion, rule, the territory subject to the rule of a king.

Without recognizing one’s lack of spirit, one cannot realize God’s fullness. Grace cannot be poured out to one oblivious of his or her necessity for it. The poor in spirit have the fulfillment of heaven’s kingdom dominion.

The poor in spirit are blessed with the kingdom’s abundance of riches. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33 NKJV)

Scripture tells us that we share in the God’s kingdom because we are His children, “For [God’s] Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering.” (Rom. 8:16-17 NLT)

Are you poor in spirit? Then, shout because you are blessed. The riches of Christ are yours. The kingdom of heaven is yours. Hallelujah!